The focus of the GMS Male Initiative Bridge Builders Forums in 2008 (shown above) and again on Oct. 10 is to get more African American and Latino males to graduate from college.

Conference to focus on African American, Latino male education

August 13, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT: Barry Zepel, Media Relations Officer, (510) 885-3884

The growing numbers of African American and Latino males who drop out of high school and do not attend college is the focus of a one-day conference Saturday, Oct. 10 in the New University Union on the Hayward Campus of California State University, East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, established with a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is sponsoring the conference - The GMS Male Initiative Bridge Builders Forum - as part of a nationwide initiative.

Registration for this second annual event begins at 8:30 a.m., with workshops and various breakout sessions taking place between 9:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Registration is required and can be completed online at www.csueastbay.edu/bridgebuilders.

"We'll have empowering workshops for students, their families, and the community, including scholarship information from the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, and informative materials about college admissions and financial aid available," said Diana Balgas, executive director of retention services for Cal State East Bay.

"Male students in ninth through 12th grades - along with their families - are encouraged to participate in the forum. Educational directors and counselors from schools, churches, and community organizations are invited."

The conference will provide attendees with a free continental breakfast and lunch.

The Male Initiative Bridge Builders Forum is sponsored through a partnership between the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, CSUEB, and the Cal State East Bay Men of Success student organization.

Additional information is available through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund at (415) 808-2347.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Bridge Builders Male Forum is an educational and interactive event designed to provide young African American and Latino males with the tools and motivation to succeed in high school and advance to college.

California State University, East Bay is the San Francisco East Bay Area's high-access public university of choice. CSUEB serves the region with campuses in Hayward and Concord, a professional development center in Oakland, and an innovative online campus. With an enrollment of more than 14,000, the University offers a nationally recognized freshman year experience, award-winning curriculum, personalized instruction, and expert faculty. Students choose from among more than 100 professionally focused fields of study for which the University confers bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as an Ed.D. in education. Named a "Best in the West" college, as well as a Best Business School, by the influential Princeton Review, Cal State East Bay is among the region's foremost producers of teachers, business professionals and entrepreneurs, public administrators, health professionals, literary and performing artists, and science and math graduates.